Keeping your self confidence is extremely difficult to do. Insecurity and fears can contribute to lack of confidence in oneself. We all have ups and downs, and waves that we ride in life. However, when things are going wrong it's difficult to keep your self confidence. It can be hard to remain confident in general. Building confidence requires strong will and determination. It requires proper mental process of the mind.

Being confident can contribute to a better lifestyle. As cliche as it sounds, gaining confidence starts by having self belief in yourself. If you don't believe in who you are, then find out who you really are. If you're not believing in yourself, there are reasons why. One you're lying to yourself. Two you're not challenging yourself enough. Three you're not accepting the possibilities and things you're capable of doing. Do you challenge yourself in life? Do you just take the easy way? Are you blind sided by what you're capable of? Because you can't give yourself false confidence. Your insecurities will be exposed eventually. You got to learn to be honest and real with yourself. You can't be afraid to do what is hard, because you're afraid of the outcome.

You got to think of things in a different perspective. What are we living our lives for? Who are we living our lives for? We're here on a one way ticket, there's no turning back. So instead of thinking of all the reasons of how things can go wrong, start thinking about what really have to lose. You don't have anything to lose. Because you're not stuck in one stop, or time frame forever. You move forward, and that is what life does as well. It moves forward and it can move pass you. I think to gain confidence, it means to take control of the moments and opportunities that present itself. You can only control what is there. Things are there for the taking. Just reach out and grab them. Seize opportunities in life and keep your mind going forward.

Brain wash your thinking techniques. You'll have to practice positive thinking techniques. Specifically when things are going bad for you. This will take time and will power. Some people just have the natural instincts to assume the worst. Block out what went wrong, and focus on what can go right beforehand. Learn to reverse your thinking mechanisms. Take a deep breath, relax, and think about the positive alternatives first. You can't play a cynic. Just maybe you can clear your mind and fix the things wrong. You'll develop more confidence if you can begin to think that way. Everyone has set backs, but become more determined. When you have setbacks, want something even more. Have a quenching thirst until you achieve the things you want. Things don't come easy all the time. Pride and determination will only transpire into confidence. It's hard to teach that, sometimes it comes down to have much you want something. How much you want to improve yourself. If you don't quit, you've never failed to succeed.

Put yourself in positive situations. Mind power can do a lot to maintain confidence. When things go wrong, you'll need to rely on that will power to keep your confidence. What makes it easier is when you put yourself in positive situations. You'll develop more happiness in your life. When you're miserable and depressed, its hard to maintain confidence. Nearly impossible to do so. Do things that make you feel good. Do things that make you laugh and enjoy life more. Enjoy the nature of life, or explore in new interests to help keep your mind fresh. Experimenting in more things that are out of your comfort zone will definitely breed more confidence.

Think of change. Just subtle change, you don't have to make drastic changes. Change can be a scary concept, because it requires you to go outside your comfort zone. The not knowing involves fear, which translates into lack of confidence. To gain confidence you have to face your fears. Fears cause insecurity and lack of confidence. If you can't battle your demons, you'll remain hot and cold with your emotions in life. You'll continue to just ride the wave, and your emotions will just play off situations. Instead of running away from a problem, face it with a vengeance. Because no matter how bad it goes, no one can take away the fact you were fearless. Start making every minute of your life more meaningful. Because life can pass you by anytime.

Don't put too much stress and work into your life. Too much work and stress won't allow your mind to process things efficiently. It can only help but damper your confidence mentally. Don't underestimate mental confidence. Your brain needs proper care. Your mind needs its breaks. Have an equal amount of work and joy into your life. You definitely need a balance. Not too much of one, and not enough of the other. Work can be really good for your confidence. Too much can cause stress, which will hurt your confidence. Try to avoid stress more effectively in your life. By either avoiding the things that cause stress, or handling stress a little better.

Take mental breaks. This requires not really just removing yourself from stress, but taking breaks in general. Breaks from everything that is routine in your life. Taking mental breaks will breathe new and fresh air into your life. That provides confidence in yourself. These breaks can be very simple things. For example, instead of watching tv, read a few books. Instead of listening to rock 'n roll, listen to new wave. I feel doing too much of the same causes anxiety and depression in ones life.

Learn to adjust to criticism. Adjust to criticism and hateful remarks thrown your way. I know this is hard, no one likes to hear negative feed back about themselves. What one says about you, doesn't make up who you are. What makes up who you are is how you carry yourself in life. Use criticism for a few things. For one, use it to motivate yourself. Doesn't it make you mad when someone puts you down? Then show them by proving them wrong. More importantly, prove something to yourself more than anyone else. Because at the end of the day, that is all that matters. You got to set a high level of self integrity and set the bar of what is good enough for you.

You can't allow others to influence your confidence. I think that is the problem we see in our culture today. Everyone follows a certain society code, and they develop confidence from what others say is good. Be more of who you are, and not what society says you should be. Because if you're not true to who you are when you follow others. Wouldn't you rather lead, than follow in life? How much confidence can you really have when let others dictate who you should be? You're just being molded into something what society and other people have dictated. Is that how you want to live life? Living it how others say you should, or think is good? Everyone has a different view of that, so there is no point. Being insecure really is overrated, when take your feelings out of the equation. You see there really isn't much purpose to feeling that way.

Do the things you enjoy and find hobbies in your life. I probably could have saved a lot of valuable time, by just stating to find a passion in life. That can be religion, love, a hobby, but find something. Finding hobbies in your life are healthy ways to develop more confidence. It's quite simple why, because it's something you enjoy doing. Just bringing more joy and pleasure in life gives you peace of mind. It gives you more confidence than you probably realize. Just exploring in the things that provide you pleasure will give you more confidence. When you feel joy, you think less about your problems. You think less about your doubts or fears. You just live your life, and start overcoming obstacles in your life as if they're routine and automatic.

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